Larry J. Bonfante, 2009 Honoree

- Title
- CIO
- Employer
- U.S. Tennis Association
- Location
- White Plains, , N.Y.
- First job:
- Human resources analyst
- Most valuable career advice:
- "Be who you are, and don't try to conform."
- Favorite vice:
- Playing the guitar and singing
- Title you'd like to hold someday:
- World's best dad
- Best mentoring relationship:
- "I mentor master's degree students at Columbia University."
- Your recreational best:
- "I perform classic rock music at a local pub."
- Favorite sport:
- Hockey
- Favorite book:
- The Lord of the Rings trilogy, by J.R.R. Tolkien
- What about you would surprise the people who you work with?
- "I once played in a band that warmed up for Aerosmith."
- Leadership philosophy in a nutshell:
- "Listen first. Always put the team before your personal agenda. When things go well, make sure that your people are recognized for the success. When things go poorly, making sure that you fall on the grenade and shield your team from the shrapnel. Say wh
- "Aha" leadership moment:
- "Relearning that each person has a unique perspective and set of talents and individualizing the way you leverage each person's strengths. Never assuming that people know where you are coming from and building the context for people as to what you are th